The Stibbert Museum is located on the hill of Montughi in Florence, Italy. The museum contains over 36,000 artifacts, including a vast collection of armor from Eastern and Western civilizations. The museum was founded by Frederick Stibbert (1836 – 1906), who inherited a vast fortune from his grandfather and did not work for the rest of his life. Frederick Stibbert dedicated his life to collecting various objects, antiques, and artifacts and turned his villa into a museum. When the size of the collections outgrew the villa, Stibbert commissioned various additions created by the likes of architect Giuseppe Poggi, the painter Gaetano Bianchi, and the sculptor Passaglia, who contributed to the present day appearance of one of the most precious examples of l9th century museums.
The vast park surrounding the villa is recognized as one of the most beautiful gardens in Florence.
Today, the museum comprises 10 rooms to exhibit the wide-ranging collections of Stibbert. The rooms are crowded with very sumptuous objects reflecting the taste of a collector. The museum includes a very lavish group of portraits belonging to different ages and most of the wall drawings are in leather. The furniture itself includes very valuable pieces dating back to the 15th century. There are important porcelains and majolica that were produced by the most important Italian and foreign manufacturers.
The museum, however, owes its reputation to its collection of arms and suits of armors that comprise an incredible number of varying and rare pieces ranging from the 15th to the 17th centuries. The vast majority of arms are European, although there are also Oriental, Persian, Indian and Islamic examples. A particularly suggestive view is offered by the parade of horses and riders fully equipped to represent the Italian, German and Islamic arms and suits of armors belonging to the 16th and 17th centuries. The museum also displays a very important group of Japanese arms, with dozens of suits of arms and hundreds of swords, which constitutes the largest collection of this kind outside of Japan.
Category: Tuscany’s Leading
Why rent a villa in Tuscany like Villa al Boschiglia? Otis’ Reason 6
Otis’ Reason 6
6 – Relax, Relax, Relax!
Relaxing is not a problem here. There are large salons on every floor in which to gather. One feels very comfortable putting their feet (paws) up and chatting about the day’s activities. One might even curl up and read a book or play the piano. We found the salons quite inviting after a long day. Relaxing outside in the pergola below the hillside olive orchard is not all that bad either. This will allow you to breath in the Tuscan countryside.
Why rent a villa in Tuscany like Villa al Boschiglia? Otis’ Reason 5
Otis’ Reason 5
5 – Equality, Equality, Equality!
You will feel the charm of living in a historical Tuscan Villa during your stay while enjoying modern amenities such as individually controlled air conditioning and heating in each of the 6 spacious bedrooms with large en suite bathroom. All 6 bedrooms with en suite baths are of equal size. This is a real plus if you are renting with friends because everything is equal. Having the bedrooms off the corners of the salons doesn’t hurt either. When I howl at night no one can hear me. All rooms are beautifully appointed and extremely comfortable.
Charterhouse of Calci
Charterhouse of Calci (Certosa di Pisa) is in the village of Calci which stands on the slopes of Mt. Pisano in the center of the so-called Val Graziosa . The monastery was founded in 1366 and Carthusian monks lived here until 1972. The building was clearly based on the typical model of the Carthusian monastery; the architects were often the monks themselves, best able to interpret the organizational and religious aspects of life in the Charterhouse. The contrast between hermitism and coenobitic life was represented by two symbolic elements: the cell and the church. The monastery is completely secluded from the outer world and from inside only the silhouette of Monti Pisani can be seen.
One can understand the life of a Monk by viewing large Cloister, a Cell, the Refectory, the Grand-Ducal Apartment, and the apothecary. The Courtyard is flanked by buildings formerly housing the stables, an oil mill, a distillery, a laundry, and a carpenter’s shop.
Since 1981 the Carthusian monastery has housed the Museo di Storia Naturale e del Territorio dell’Università di Pisa. The museums exhibits very ancient mineralogical, paleontological and zoological collections, including some pieces dating back to the 16th century. The museum features also an interesting scientific library.
What to visit in Certaldo
Originally an Etruscan-Roman city, Certaldo was a fief of the Alberti counts until conquered by the Florentines in 1184. Certaldo’s importance slowly grew under Firenze. The town, is divided in an upper part called “Rione Castello”, surrounded by fortification walls that enclose medieval surroundings, and a lower, modern and industrialized part.
Certaldo, was the home of the family of Giovanni Boccaccio, who died and was buried here in 1375. His house was restored in 1823 and transformed into a specialized library with sections devoted to his life including translations of his works.
The Palazzo Pretorio, the residence of the Florentine governors, recently restored to its original condition, has a picturesque facade and court adorned with coats of arms, and in the interior are various frescoes dating from the I3th to the 16th century. Palazzo Pretorio is the highest building in town and offers a nice view over Certaldo. Outside is a facade decorated with heraldic shields while the inside includes a prison, the quarters of the Vicar and his family, and rooms formerly used as the seat of government.